Coaxial connector for final anode and convergence voltages

ABSTRACT

A gun structure for a picture tube of the single-gun, plural beam type is provided with a common voltage supplying terminal attached to the funnel portion of the tube and through which both an anode voltage and a convergence voltage are supplied to the tube.

COAXIAL CONNECTOR FOR FINAL ANODE AND CONVERGENCE VOLTAGES 7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 313/64, 313/92, 313/318, 174/50.55 Int. Cl H0lj 29/00, 1-101j31/20, HOlj 31/00 Field of Search 313/92 PD, 318, 64

0 3 7. K Q 3 I l X 6 3 '7 1 [111 3,626,232

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,882,430 4/1959 Nordby 313/318 X 2,898,467 8/1959 Von Ardenne 313/64 X 2,928,968 3/1960 Hoagland l 313/92 PD 2,950,408 8/1960 Ketchpel 313/64 X 3,238,406 3/1966 Greilich et al. 313/318 X 3,448,316 6/1969 Yoshida et al. 3l3/70C 3,461,342 8/1969 Marks 313/70 C X FOREIGN PATENTS 565,274 11/1944 Great Britain 313/64 865,920 2/1953 Germany 313/64 Primary E.raminerRobert Segal Auomeys Lewis H. Eslinger, Alvin Sinderbrand and Curtis,

Morris & Safford ABSTRACT: A gun structure for a picture tube of the singlegun, plural beam type is provided with a common voltage supplying terminal attached to the funnel portion of the tube and through which both an anode voltage and a convergence voltage are supplied to the tube.

PATENTED DEC 7 I97! lib SHEET 2 BF 2 FIG. 5.

INVENTORS AKIO OHOGOSHI KEITO NAKAZAWA AT TORNE Y COAXIAL CONNECTOR FOR FINAL ANODE AND CONVERGENCE VOLTAGES This invention relates generallyto picture tubes of the single-gun, plural-beam type, and particularly to tubes of the type in which the plural beams are passed through the optical.

center of a common electron lens by which the beams are focused on the color phosphor screen.

In single-gun, plural beam picture tubes of the described type, for example as specifically disclosed in U.S."Pati-No. 3,448,316 issued June 3, I969, and having a common assignee herewith, three laterally spaced electron beams are emitted by a beam generating or cathode assembly and directed in a common substantially horizontal plane, with the central beam coinciding with the optical axis of the single electron focusing lens and the two outer beams being converged to cross the central beam at the optical center ofthe lens and thus emerge from the latter along paths that are divergent from the optical axis. Arranged along such divergent paths are pairs of convergence deflecting plates having voltages applied thereto to laterally deflect the divergent beams in a substantially horizontal plane for causing all beams to converge at a point on the apertured beam selecting grill or shadow mask associated with the screen.

In such picture tubes, the beam generating assembly, electron focusing lens and convergence deflecting plates are assembled together as a unit to fonn the single gun structure which is inserted into the neck portion of the glassenvelope further having a conical funnel portion extendingfrom the neck portion and terminating in a face on which the screenis provided.

This invention is particularly directed to the means. by

which voltages are applied to the convergence deflecting plates of the described unitary gun structure for effectingthe desired convergence of the beams.

Tubes of the described type further have horizontal and vertical deflection coils for appropriate deflection of the electron. beams to effect scanning of the screen, and such coilsareembodied in a yoke assembly to be disposed around the tube where the neck portion and the conical funnel portionsmeet.

In the manufacture of the tubes, it is preferable that the defec-' tion yoke assembly, which-is of generally toruslike configuration, be preassembled and simply slid over the neck-portion to the position thereof adjacent the juncture of the'neckand conical funnel portions. Accordingly,.it may be understood that any protuberances or projections in the nature, for exams ple, of operating voltage pickups which extend from the surface of the neck portion will interfere with this sliding of the deflection yoke assembly thereover to thus complicate tubev manufacture.

Further, and referring again to the manufacturingprocesses utilized in the production of such tubes, it will be understood that the gun structure, which includes the plural beam generating means, the focusing lens and. the convergence deflecting means, and which is generally manufactured as a unit outside the tube envelope andthen inserted into the neck portion, has to be precisely positioned therein. Accordingly, if anything other than a substantially smooth surface isprovided at the interior of the tube neck portion, this-will interfere'with the free passage of the gun structure through the tube neck portion to the requisite position thereof to thereby further complicate the tube manufacturing process.

It is, accordingly, an object of this invention to provide a single-gun, plural-beam picture tube having meansfor applying the necessary operating voltages to the convergence deflection means in a manner to avoid the aforementioned problem.

It is a further object to provide apicture tube which requires no connections to the neck portion of the tube for the purpose of supplying operating voltages to the convergence deflectingmeans, thereby facilitating the sliding of the electronbeam deflection yoke assembly thereover into operative position on the tube.

Itis stillanother-object toprovide a picture tube in which both the anode voltageand'the convergencevoltage are supplied to the 'tube fromia common-insulated terminal on the conical portion of the tube.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of this invention, will become apparent from reading thefollow FIG. 4 isa side view-partly in axial section showing a'con- I nector of this-invention for engagement withthe terminal of I velope as indicated-generallyat E and comprise'sa generally cylindrical, tubeneck portion andan. integralgenerally conical funnel portion C constructed'from any suitable, nonconductive material in the nature of glass.

A singlegun is disposed in the tube neckportion N andincludes an assembly K ofcathodes :which function asbeam generating sources K K and'K respectively. A first control grid G is provided to substantially surround .the electron beam generating sources, and such control grid'has apertures h h h which are each-aligned'with a respective one of the respective beam generating sources.

A common grid, -G,, having-c apertures h h h is disposed adjacent the gridi-Gj, and the apertures of the commongrid. G, are formed insubstantial-alignment with-the respective apertures in the-control grid.G,. Arranged in order a following the grid G in-the direction away' from the cathode assembly K are successive, open-endedi'generally tubulargrids or electrodes G G and G The electrodesG through G,, and 1 the cathode assembly K areassembled together and maintained in the relative positions shownby means of longitudinally'extending insulating beads (not shown). The gun structure is positioned withinltheneckiportion N of the tube envelope byslidable engagement of the beads with the inner surface of the neck portion N. The beads. aresmooth surfaced and offer'relatively' small-frictional resistance.

A predeterminedpotential is applied'to each grid by extending leads (not shown) to pins projecting outwardly of the rear and of the neck portion ofthetube.

With the application of appropriate operating voltages to control gridG common gridfi, and electrodes G,, G and G as is well known in the art, an electron lens field will -cor-' respond to an auxiliary lensasindicated at L and an electron lens field corresponding to a, main focusinglens as indicated at L is formed at the axial centerof the electrode G by the electrodes G5, G and G Thus, the electron' beams'B B,

which emanate from the electron beam'generatingsources K and K willbe madeto converge by'auxiliary lens L, to intersect each other substantially at the optical center of main focusing lens L with the central'electronbeam'B, which extends along the optical axis of lens L emerging-from the latter undeflected, and the electron'beams B and B emerging therefrom, as shown,along divergingpaths.

In order to subsequently. reconverge-the electron beams B and B, with the electron beam'B ata commonspot or area in an apertured grid, grill or shadow mask A which isdisposedjust before the screen S of the picture tube, there is provided electron beam deflecting means F. The deflecting means F may comprise a pair of spaced, opposed shielding plates P P, which extend axially of the picture tube, and a pair of spaced, convergence deflecting plates 0,, and O, which are in spaced, opposed relationship with the respective outer surfaces of the shielding plates P P The plates P and P, are electrically connected to each other, as a conductor, and can be supported within the neck of the tube N in any convenient manner. For example, electrically conductive supports 11 can extend between the electrode G and the plates P P and firmly anchor the latter. The convergence deflecting plates Q 0,, are then supported from beads 12, 13 of any suitable insulative material which are in turn supported from the respective shielding plates P P by support pins 14, 15 respectively. Thus, the convergence deflecting plates 0,, and 0,, which are electrically connected to each other, as by a conductor 11a will be supported from the deflecting plates P P, without any electrical connection therebetween. By utilizing the described construction, the respective shielding plates and convergence deflecting plates P P,, Q Q, are disposed such that the electron beam B, will pass between the convergence deflecting plate 0,, and the shielding plate P The beamB will pass between the shielding plates P P and the beam B,, will pass between the shielding plate I, and the convergence deflecting plate 0,.

For operation of the electron beam deflecting means F, it will be understood that the application of suitable operating voltages thereto will be required. More specifically, it will be required that a first high voltage, for example of the order of l3 to kv., be applied to shielding plates P P and that a second high voltage which differs from the first voltage by 200 to 300 volts, be applied to the convergence deflecting plates 0 0,. Thus, a potential difference of 200 to 300 V will be established between the plates 0,, and P and Q, and P to thereby provide for the desired electrostatic deflection of the respective beams 13,, and B while enabling the undeflected passage of the electron beam B between the shielding plates P P, which are maintained at the same potential.

A conductive layer 16 FIGS. 1 and 2 is applied to a major portion of the interior surface of the conical portion C of the tube and extends into the adjacent part of the neck portion N of the picture tube. An anode voltage is applied to this conductive layer 16 through an anode button or terminal generally indicated at 17.

The anode button 17 comprises a tubular outer conductive electrode 18 (FIG. 3) which is basically funnel-shaped. The larger end of the outer electrode 18 is bent inwardly so as to form an inwardly extending lip 19. A plate 20 is held within the outer electrode 18 by the lip 19. The function of the plate will be explained hereinbelow.

An inner conductive electrode 21, for example, in the form of a pin, extends axially through the outer electrode 18 and is held firmly therein by any known insulating material 22 such as a ceramic material for example. The insulating material serves to isolate and insolate the outer and inner electrodes from each other.

The conductive layer 16 is electrically connected to the outer electrode 18, as at 23 on FIG. 3. A second inner conductive layer 24 is provided on the inner surface of the tube; however, it is isolated from the layer 16. For example, as shown on FIG. 2, the conductive layer 24 may be in the form of a stripe extending centrally along a relatively wider area of the inner surface of the tube from which the layer 16 is absent. The second conductive layer 24 extends from adjacent the anode button 17 to the neck portion of the tube E in the vicinity of the convergence deflector plates 0,, O An electrically conductive link or bar 25 which can be of a metallic material is fixed to the inner end of the inner electrode 21 and extends radially outwardly therefrom. A spring contact 26 is fixed to the free end of link 25 and is in contact with the layer 24 so that a conductive path is established from the inner electrode 21 to the layer 24 by way of the link 25 and spring contact 26.

In order to apply a high anode voltage, for example, of 13 to 20 kv., to electrode 18, and another high voltage to electrode 21, which other high voltage may differ from the anode voltage by 200 to 300 v., there is provided a cable 27 containing coaxial outer and inner conductors 28 and 29 sheathed in in sulation 30 and separated from each other by insulation 31. Attached to an end of cable 27 is a so-called anode cap 32 having a flexibly resilient cap body 33 of soft rubber or other insulating material into which conductors 28 and 29 extend. Outer and inner conductive connecting 34 and 35 separated from each other by insulation 36 are connected with conductors 28 and 29, respectively, within cap body 33 and project from the latter into a recess 37 defined by a dish-shaped skirt 38. The inner connector 35 may be, as shown, in the form of a tubular socket that is telescopically engageable over the inner electrode or pin 21 of button 17. The outer connector 34 is in the form of an annulus 39 from which a series of fingers 40 project in a circular array spaced radially outward from inner connector 35. As shown, each of fingers 40 extends radially outward from annulus 39, as at 40a, and has a generally S- shaped curvature so as to define an outwardly opening recess 40b between the free end of the finger and an outwardly directed node 40a.

When cap 32 is to be engaged with button 17, skirt 38 of the cap body is flexed from its normal concave shape to a convex configuration, whereby to fully expose fingers 40 of outer electrode 34, and fingers 40 are flexed radially inward by applying pressure at the nodes 40:: until the free ends of fingers 40 can pass through the opening defined by lip 20. With the fingers 40 thus flexed, connector 35 is telescoped slidably over electrode pin 21 and the free end position of fingers 40 are inserted into electrode 18. Upon the release of the pressure from the nodes 40c of fingers 40, the latter return to their normal positions shown on FIG. 4 to engage lip 20 of electrode 18 in recesses 40b of the fingers, whereby the latter are securely engaged with the outer electrode. Finally, shirt 38 is returned to its normal position to snugly press against the outer surface of the tube around button 17 and to tension the free end portions of fingers 40 against the under surface of lip 20.

As shown on FIG. 1,'a contact 41, which may be a metallic leaf opening, extends from one of the electrically interconnected inner plates P A and P of convergence device F into engagement with conductive layer 16, and a similar contact 42 extends from one of the electrically interconnected outer plates and 0,, into engagement with conductive layer 24. Thus, when cap 32 is engaged with button 17, as described above, and first and second high voltages, for example, an anode voltage of 13 to 20 kv. and voltage differing from the anode voltage by 200 to 300 v., are applied to conductors 28 and 29, the first or anode voltage is transmitted through connector 34, electrode 18, layer 16 and contact 41 to plates P and P while the second voltage is transmitted through connector 35, electrode 21, link 25, contact 26, layer 24 and contact 42 to plates 0, and Q for establishing the electric fields between plates 1, and Q, and between plates P and Q by which beams B and B are made to converge with beam 8 at the grill or mask A Referring now to FIG. 5, in which another embodiment of an anode cap 32 according to this invention is shown in association with an anode button or terminal 17' engageable thereby, it will be seen that the several parts are identified by the same reference numerals employed for the corresponding parts of the previously described cap 32 and button 17, but with a prime appended to each such numeral. 1n the embodiment of FIG. 5, the attachment of cap 32' to button 17or its disengagement from the latter, is facilitated without detracting from the security of engagement of the cap with the button during their attachment to each other.

As shown, cap 32 is connected to an end of cable 30' containing conductors 28' and 29 and includes a cap body 33' of rubber or the like from which a flexibly resilient skirt 38' extends. The conductors 28' and 29' are attached, within body 33, to terminals 43 and 44 which extend from the annulus 39 of outer connector 34 and from the tubular inner connector 35, respectively. The tubular inner connector 35' may be longitudinally split to define fingers which are biased radially inward for tight engagement with the electrode pin 21' of button 17 The circularly arranged series of resilient fingers 40' extends substantially axially from annulus 39', and each finger 40' is shaped or bent to define a radially outward opening recess 40'!) adjacent to its free end. The fingers 40 are biased radially outward so that, when fingers 40' are not restricted in their radially outward movement, such fingers will assume positions in which flange 19' on the annular electrode 18 is engageable in recesses 40' b against fingers 40' for securely connecting electrode 18' with connector 34'.

In order to facilitate the engagement and disengagement of fingers 40 with respect to flange l9, cap 32 further includes a ring 45 slidable axially along fingers 40' and having an inner diameter that is only slightly larger than the diameter measured across fingers 40' at the recesses 40'b when such fingers are in their above mentioned unrestricted positions. Thus, when ring 45 is axially displaced to the location of recesses 40b, fingers 40' are not radially restricted by the ring; whereas, when ring 45 is axially displaced from recesses 40'b in the direction away from the free ends of fingers 40', for example to the position shown on'FlG. 5, ring 45 flexes fingers 40' radially inward to permit the free movement of fingers 40' axially into and out of annular electrode 18 past flange 19.

In attaching cap 32' to button 17', ring 45 is moved to the position shown on FIG. 5 and fingers 40 are penetrated into electrode 18' so that recesses 40'b register with flange l9, whereupon, skirt 38' is flexed away from tube wall C to permit ring 45 to be grasped and moved axially into recesses 40'b. Such movement of ring 45 permits fingers 40 to return radially outward to their normal positions, whereby flange 19' is securely engaged in recesses 40'b to establish the electrical connection between electrode 18' and connector 34 while connector 34' engages electrode 21' to establish the electrical connection therebetween.

When it is desired to remove cap 32' from button 17', skirt 38' is again flexed away from the tube wall so that the outer edge of ring 45 can be grasped for movement of the ring back to the position shown on FIG. 5. By reason of the illustrated inclined sides of recesses 40'b, as shown, such movement of ring 45 will cause the latter to cam over the inclined sides of recesses 40'b and to radial contract fingers 40' so as to release the latter from flange 19 and thereby permit axial withdrawal of connectors 34 and 35' from electrodes 18 and 21'.

It will be apparent that, in each of the above described embodiments of the invention, the usual anode voltage of the tube and a second high voltage, which may be a DC voltage with an AC voltage superimposed thereon for dynamic convergence, are both applied to the tube at a single button 17 or 17' disposed in the conical portion C of the tube. Thus, the neck portion N of the tube is free of any button or other projection for supplying the voltages necessary for operation of the convergence deflection means F, and the installation of the yoke D for scanning deflections of the beams is facilitated. Further, since the first high voltage or anode voltage is supplied to the tube by an engaged electrode 18 or 18' and connector 34 or 34 which surround the electrode 21 or 21' and connector 35 or 35' for supplying the second high voltage, it will be apparent that the latter voltage is shielded by the anode voltage from exterior electrical potentials to prevent discharge of the said second high voltage and thereby to obtain stabilized beam convergence.

Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

We claim: 1. In a color picture tube having a neck portion and a enerally conical ortion terminating in a face havin a screen ereon, and elec ron gun means disposed in the nec portion for directing a plurality of electron beams focused on the screen and requiring first and second high voltages for the operation thereof; the combination of first and second conductive layers electrically isolated from each other on the interior surface of said conical portion and extending at least adjacent said tube neck, contact means extending from said gun means into engagement with said first and second layers respectively, a button structure mounted in said conical portion of the tube and including a first annular electrode having a radially inward directed flange and a second electrode in the form of a pin disposed concentrically within said annular first electrode, said first and second electrodes being insulated from each other and respectively electrically connected with said first and second conductive layers, a cable containing first and second conductors insulated from each other to receive said first and second voltages, and a cap to which said cable extends, said cap being releasably engageable with said button structure and including an annular first conductive connector electrically connected with said first conductor and having resilient fingers extending therefrom and formed with outwardly opening recesses to receive said flange upon insertion of said first connector into said first electrode, and a second conductive connector connected electrically with said second conductor and being in the form of a socket disposed concentrically within said first connector and slidable on said pin upon said insertion, said resilient fingers of the first connector being capable of radially inward flexing to release said flange from said recesses during attachment and removal of said cap with respect to said button structure.

2. A color picture tube according to claim 1, in which said electron gun means includes means for producing the plurality of beams, electron beam focusing lens means for the focusing of the beams on said screen on the color screen with at least two of the beams emerging from the lens means along paths divergent to the optical axis thereof, electron beam deflecting means disposed intermediate said focusing lens means and said screen and being operative to deflect the beams emerging along the divergent paths for convergence of the beams at a common area on the screen, said deflecting means having first and second pairs of spaced plates from which said contact means respectively extend so that said first and second high voltages are respectively supplied to said first and second pairs of plates for operating said electron beam deflection means.

3. A color picture tube according to claim 1, in which said fingers have nodes projecting radially outward at the sides of said recesses remote from the free ends of said fingers and by which said fingers may be pressed radially inward for releasing said flange from said recesses.

4. A color picture tube according to claim 1, in which a ring is axially slidable on said fingers and has an inner diameter to pennit engagement of said flange in said recesses when said ring is moved to one location along said fingers and to flex said fingers radially inward for releasing said flange from said recesses when said ring is displaced from said one location.

5. A color picture tube according to claim 4, in which said ring also engages in said recesses when disposed in said one location.

6. A color picture tube according to claim 1, in which said cap includes a flexible insulating body from which said connectors project, said body having a skirt nonnally pressing against the tube when the cap is engaged with said button structure and being flexible away from the tube to expose said fingers for said flexing thereof.

7. A color picture tube according to claim 1, in which said first and second conductors are arranged coaxially in said cable. 

1. In a color picture tube having a neck portion and a generally conical portion terminating in a face having a screen thereon, and electron gun means disposed in the neck portion for directing a plurality of electron beams focused on the screen and requiring first and second high voltages for the operation thereof; the combination of first and second conductive layers electrically isolated from each other on the interior surface of said conical portion and extending at least adjacent said tube neck, contact means extending from said gun means into engagement with said first and second layers respectivelY, a button structure mounted in said conical portion of the tube and including a first annular electrode having a radially inward directed flange and a second electrode in the form of a pin disposed concentrically within said annular first electrode, said first and second electrodes being insulated from each other and respectively electrically connected with said first and second conductive layers, a cable containing first and second conductors insulated from each other to receive said first and second voltages, and a cap to which said cable extends, said cap being releasably engageable with said button structure and including an annular first conductive connector electrically connected with said first conductor and having resilient fingers extending therefrom and formed with outwardly opening recesses to receive said flange upon insertion of said first connector into said first electrode, and a second conductive connector connected electrically with said second conductor and being in the form of a socket disposed concentrically within said first connector and slidable on said pin upon said insertion, said resilient fingers of the first connector being capable of radially inward flexing to release said flange from said recesses during attachment and removal of said cap with respect to said button structure.
 2. A color picture tube according to claim 1, in which said electron gun means includes means for producing the plurality of beams, electron beam focusing lens means for the focusing of the beams on said screen on the color screen with at least two of the beams emerging from the lens means along paths divergent to the optical axis thereof, electron beam deflecting means disposed intermediate said focusing lens means and said screen and being operative to deflect the beams emerging along the divergent paths for convergence of the beams at a common area on the screen, said deflecting means having first and second pairs of spaced plates from which said contact means respectively extend so that said first and second high voltages are respectively supplied to said first and second pairs of plates for operating said electron beam deflection means.
 3. A color picture tube according to claim 1, in which said fingers have nodes projecting radially outward at the sides of said recesses remote from the free ends of said fingers and by which said fingers may be pressed radially inward for releasing said flange from said recesses.
 4. A color picture tube according to claim 1, in which a ring is axially slidable on said fingers and has an inner diameter to permit engagement of said flange in said recesses when said ring is moved to one location along said fingers and to flex said fingers radially inward for releasing said flange from said recesses when said ring is displaced from said one location.
 5. A color picture tube according to claim 4, in which said ring also engages in said recesses when disposed in said one location.
 6. A color picture tube according to claim 1, in which said cap includes a flexible insulating body from which said connectors project, said body having a skirt normally pressing against the tube when the cap is engaged with said button structure and being flexible away from the tube to expose said fingers for said flexing thereof.
 7. A color picture tube according to claim 1, in which said first and second conductors are arranged coaxially in said cable. 